#445 Daily dose : Amazon Alexa

ALWAYS READY, CONNECTED, AND FASTWith the free Amazon Alexa App, Alexa is always ready to play your favorite music, provide weather and news updates, answer questions, create lists, and much more. Alexa’s brain is in the cloud, so she continually learns and adds more functionality over time. The more you use Alexa, the more she adapts to your speech patterns, vocabulary, and personal preferences.

A NEW WAY TO USE INTEGRATED DEVICES
With Smart Home, set-up devices, control or check status of your smart lights, locks and thermostats at home and on-the go. Create groups of smart lights and control all the lights in a room with a single command. Automate your smart home with custom Routines – with one command you can wake up with your Flash Briefing, turn on the lights, and get the coffee brewing by turning on your smart plug

CONNECT WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS
With the Alexa App, you can call and message Amazon Echo device owners and anyone else with the Alexa App on their phone or tablet. When you’re away from home, use the app to make a quick call or send a message to your family’s Echo device. You can also enable Drop In to instantly connect with your compatible Alexa devices for call home or to let your family know it’s time for dinner or check on an elderly relative.

MUSIC EVERYWHERE
Stream all of your music, listen to radio stations, and have access to news and information, all by voice on compatible Echo devices – or with the Amazon Alexa App. With multi-room music, create groups of compatible Echo devices on the same Wi-Fi network to play music across those devices to surround yourself with Music.

HOW IT WORKS
For Alexa-enabled device owners, the Amazon Alexa App is the companion to your Alexa-enabled devices that lets you set-up devices and easily manage your alarms, music, shopping lists, and more – wherever you are. Just start by connecting to your home’s Wi-Fi network using the simple guided setup in the Amazon Alexa App.
Smart Home and Routines are only available for Android 5.0 or later. Some features are not available in all locations, for example, In-App Alexa support, Alexa calling and messaging, Smart Home controls, and Music.